Horizontal piano



Feb. 27,1940. M, D Y 5 AL 2,191,443

HORIZONTAL PI'ANO Filed June 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQFS 77% I Feb. 27, 1940. w. M. DAY ET AL HORIZONTAL PIANO 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1938 INVENTORS ;1;6-wu7w.% -7

A .lil u Feb. 21; 1940.

w. M. DAY ET! AL 2,191,443

HORI ZONTAL PIANO Filed June 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 33 3 2 FIG. 3

INVENTORS FIG. 4

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignors to The Baldwin Company, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,438

Our invention has reference to horizontal pianos, and a broad object thereof is to provide a percussive stringed instrument, related generally to small grand pianos, of improved tone Claims.

and construction. Pertaining to this object are other objects:

To provide a small horizontal piano of a distinctive form of symmetrical appearance and including new positions of tone producing parts, whereby the tone of the instrument is improved.

To provide improved tone outlets in a piano.

To provide a piano of modern, sturdy construction employing the present high-tension strings, but of reduced height and reduced vertical compass of the piano casing. In attaining this object we have obtained an instrument of more pleasing appearance than grand pianos now constructed; of a height compatible with other articles of furniture in a modern room; and readily susceptible of modifications in its ornamentality. Moreover, we thus provide a horizontal instrument giving a greater aspect of comfort to the performer.

With these objects in mind and other objects which will occur to those skilled in the art on reading this specification, or will be pointed out hereinafter, our invention will now be described in detail, reference being made for clearness to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a piano constructed according to the invention, with the lids removed to expose the strings, bridges, and frame;

Figure 2 is a vertical midsectional view of the instrument, taken on the plane 2-4. as 'indicated in Figure 1, with the lids and music desk raised;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial View of the left-hand part of Figure 2, with the lids and music desk lowered; and

Figure 4 is a partial front view of the instrument showing in section a means for attaching the keybed and a leg to the piano.

With particular reference to Figure 1, a piano of our construction comprises a small instrument in which the over-all dimensions of length and width are comparable. As respects these, therefore, our piano compares with a small grand piano, and is thus advantageous in residential sales and use. Also, it will be noted that our piano includes the tonal advantages of overstringing, in which the treble strings I and bass strings 3 are comprised in separate but related systems, connected respectively to the two bridges 4 and 5.

However, the soundboard 6 of an instrument of this description, together with the metal plate I and the casing 8 therefor, are of symmetrical contour, as shown; and the bass bridge 5 attached to a rear part of the soundboard has been located diagonally considerably to the right of the bass bridge positions in conventionally shaped small grand pianos. This position of the bass bridge in combination with the soundboard shape permitting it, has resulted in a considerably greater angularity of the bass strings with respect to the front of the piano than has hitherto been possible in ordinary small grand pianos; and on considering the position of the bass strings and bridge of the ordinary small grand piano it will be seen that by the geometry of the construction in the present invention, greater bass string lengths are established in a given length of small piano of the class than would otherwise be possible. As a further consequence of the present construction, the position of the bass bridge in this invention has also permitted a lengthening of thetreble strings, by the moving of the bass bridge to provide more space therefor, the treble bridge being swung rearwardly into this space. In fact to provide proper striking points on the lengthened strings thus efiected, we have found it necessary to provide a diagonal line of striking (dashed line 9 of Figure 1) for the hammers to (Figures 2 and 3), as compared with a striking line parallel to the piano front in an ordinary small grand piano; and it will be noted that the striking line of the present instrument is as a consequence more removed from the front of the piano, in the bass than it is in the treble.

, The disclosed form of the soundboard 6 together with the locations of the bridges B and 5 thereon, has resulted in an adequate soundboard area around these bridges; and has permitted the incorporation of two resonating chambers, one near each side of the piano, as indicated respectively by the tone holes H and l2, ii, I 2", in the rear solid portions of the plate 1.

In this way, according to the disclosure set forth above, we have succeeded in establishing improved tone quality and power in a small horizontal piano, and we have found by direct comparison that an instrument constructed according to this invention is superior in tone to a conventional grand piano of similar size. For

example in considering the bass tones we have found ours to be of greater depth, power, and brilliance, and that in performing on ordinary grand pianos, it is necessary to employ a 5 noticeably larger piano to equal the results obtained in the present instrument. Similar advantages are effected in the treble tones.

We have found it advantageous to provide a length of rear casing wall I3 of the instant piano, equal to about one half the distance between the side casing walls (arms) 14, I5. Thus if the distance between these walls be about 54 inches, the rear wall l3 may be 28 to 34 inches long and it is disposed about 53 inches behind the front edge of the keybed l6, substantially parallel thereto. Connecting the rearwardly extending side walls and the rear wall, are intermediate casing walls l1, I8 extending rearwardly and in wardly. A type of construction which we have found to be effective in composing these various Walls to form the casing 8, is that shown in a copending application Serial No. 176,410, filed-by Wilbur M. Day, one of the present applicants, on November 26, 1937, for Rim Construction for Pianos, now matured into Patent No. 2,161,139 issued June 6, 1939. This relates to a continuous laminated rim; and while we prefer to employ it, the present instrument is not of necessity limited to its use; the walls 3-I8 may for example be constructed as separate members and joined together.

The disclosed diagonal position of the bass bridge 5 in the rear part of the soundboard near the wall [3 has resulted in a bridge position in a median location about equidistant from the ends of this Wall; and as the soundboard 6 conforms generally in contour to the case 8, generous area of soundboard is provided on both sides of the bass bridge. As mentioned above, this has resulted in longer strings and improvements in tone. (For clarity, certain only of the strings I and 3 are shown, toestablish the string arrangement.)

We have found it desirable in this invention to provide lids for the instrument, arranged as shown in Figure 2. These lids l9 and 28 are hinged on stationary pivots attached to blocks 2| and 22 supported by the case 8 and extend forwardly and rearwardly therefrom over the casing. When raised to inclined positions as indicated, on the props 23, 24 respectively, sound is distributed evenly from the piano; and it may be placed with equal advantage at any orientation in a room, without detraction from its tone or appearance. This is to be compared with usual grand pianos, of asymmetric form and having lids hinged on one side, wherein advantageous positions in a room are limited.

The rear lid 20 consists of a single member, whereas the front lid l9 comprises three members 25, 26, 21, hinged together at their edges. When the lid I9 is in a raised position these members may be folded upon each other as shown in Figure 2, and when. the lid is closed, as in Figure 3, the members cover respectively an intermediate portion of the case, the forward case portion, and the front of the instrument.

Another aspect of our invention pertains to the reduction in height of the piano, and in the vertical compass of its base 8. We accomplish these by combination of cooperative construction pertaining to the music desk, action and keybed, together with modifications in other parts for the purpose.

Thus as shown in Figures 2 and 3 we have re- A duced in height the front parts of the load ribs 28 of the string frame (plate) I. This provides a recessed space between the arms l4, 15, into which the music desk 29 of a piano may be placed, thus permitting the case 8 to be of less vertical compass, to terminate immediately above the ribs 28. The desk 29 may be mounted in the recessed space on pivots attached to the music shelf 3!! and is lowered forwardly from its raised position of use in Figure 2, to a closed position between the case arms l4, 15, as set forth in Figure 3.

The string frame (plate) '5 is comprised integrally of metal and to compensate in strength for the reduction in height of the forward parts of ribs 28, the reenforcing rib 3! extending across the front of the frame at the front of the platelike pinblock portion 32, projects both above and below the pin section 32.

Cooperating with the above arrangement is a reduction in the height of the action motivating the hammers ill. The action of our piano, of modern principle of grand action operation including the advantages of repetition levers, ineludes main levers c-r wippens 33 from the undersides of which the capstan blocks have been removed. The removal of these blocks (a necessary appendage in conventional grand actions to raise these actions to prevent interference between the rear parts of keys such as 36 and a wippen rail interposed between keys and action) combined with a new position of the wippen rail 35 above the Wippens, has resulted in lessening of height requirements of the action in this instrument; consequently a further reduction in the height of the case 8.- As shown, the wippens 33 are hinged rearwardly on pivots depending from the rail 35, located above.

The type of keybed construction employed in the present piano is advantageous in lessening the requirements of height. The keybed I6 is composed of a number of thin wood laminae, about five, each of the area of the bed, cemented together to form a keybed approximately three quarters of an inch thick, about one half the thickness of usual modern keybeds. We have found that this type of construction has resulted in a solid bed essentially free from warpage. As an insurance for rigidity of the keybed l6, essential to the pianist striking the keyboard 34, we have secured a metal T-rail 36 to the front edge of the keybed, this rail 36 being useful also as a means for attaching the keystrip 31 extending along the front of the keyboard.

To the underside of the keybed is secured a reenforcing board 38 to which the pedal lyre 39 is attached.

The keybed construction employed has permitted the bed to be placed within the casing 8,

with its lower surface on a level with the lower edge of the case, thus giving the case a trim appearance. To do this the case 8 may be composed of an inner rim to and outer rim M, the outer rim extending above and below the inner rim to form. upper and lower shoulders. The soundboard t and string frame 8 are supported in the upper shoulder, and the keybed i6 is secured to a front part of the case 8, to be contiguous therewith in the lower shoulder.

In attaching legs to the piano, we have provided metal L-plates 42 as shown particularly in Figure 4. These plates are secured to the inner surfaces of arms l4, l5 and the upper surface of the bed If. They serve as additional means for securingthe keybed, and also means for attaching the legs 43screw holes 44 are placed in the horizontal parts of the L-plates, into which are threaded the stud bolts 45 extending from the legs. At the rear part of the case, in the lower 75 shoulder formed by rims 40 and 4| is a leg board 46 to which the rear legs 4'! are attached.

Thus we have effected a reduction in height of the instrument and in the vertical compass of its case; and we have succeeded in constructing a horizontal piano of modern structure, having an overall height of 34% inches, and a case 9%; inches wide vertically. With these considerations we provide a keyboard at the usual height; and our instrument is to be compared with conventional grand pianos wherein the dimensions corresponding to 34 and 9 above are about 38 and 13 inches.

The instrument of this description in attaining the above objects is of particular advantage to the performerits lower height provides greater issuance of sound at ear level and provides a better position for music being read.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in our invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, its scope is pointed out in the appended claims and having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In combination in a piano, a horizontally disposed casing comprising an inner and an outer rim secured together, said outer rim extending above and below said inner rim to form upper and lower shoulders, a metal string frame located within said casing and supported on said upper shoulder, said frame including a plurality of rib members extending rearwardly from the front thereof with their uppermost edges immediately below the upper edge of said casing, the forward parts of said ribs being of reduced height to provide a recessed space within said casing, erectile music desk located in said recessed space, and a horizontal keybed secured to said so as to rest against said lower shoulder with the under side of the ends of said keybed co-planar with the lower edge of said casing, whereby the case structure of a horizontal piano including a music desk, is reduced in vertical compass and given a trim appearance.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, including metal corner plates as a means for sesecuring said kcybed to said casing.

3. In combination in a piano, a piano case including a pair of side arms, and a horizontal keybed secured by means near its ends to said arms, said means including a pair of metal corner plates attached respectively to said arms and to said keybed.

4. In combination in a piano, a piano case including a pair of side arms extending vertically in the direction of their widths, a horizontal keybed secured by means near its ends to said arms, said means including a pair of metal corner plates, said plates including vertical limbs and horizontal limbs attached respectively to said arms and to said keybed, said plates including leg holding means, and piano legs attached to said plates in said means.

5. In combination in a piano, a piano case including a pair of side arms extending vertically in the direction of their widths, a horizontal keybed secured by means near its ends to said arms, said means including a pair of metal L-shaped plates, attached respectively to said arms and to said keybed, said plates including threaded holes, and piano legs including threaded stud bolts extending upwardly therefrom to be secured in said holes.

6. In combination in a piano, a horizontal keybed, a horizontally disposed casing of substantially symmetrical contour including side walls secured to said keybed at its ends and intermediate walls extending rearwardly-inwardly from said side walls to a rear wall disposed substantially parallel to the front edge of said keybed, said rear wall being of a length equal substantially to one half the distance between said side walls and located rearwardly of the front edge of said keybed such a distance that the said distance between said side walls is at least equal to said rearwardly locating distance, a horizontal soundboard located within said casing with its front edge rearward of the front edge of said keybed, said soundboard conforming substantially in contour to said casing and supported at least thereby, a bass bridge secured to the upper surface of said soundboard and located in a rear part thereof near said rear casing wall approximately equidistant from the ends of said rear wall, a metal string frame located within said casing and supported at least thereby immediately above said sound board with its front edge intermediate the front edges of said soundboard and said keybed, bass strings supported in tension on said frame and extending diagonally rearwardly, contiguously across said bass bridge, and a keyboard of rearwardly extending playing keys and a piano action including hammers for striking said strings, supported on said keybed, whereby the tone quality of a small horizontal piano is improved.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, including a treble bridge secured to the upper surface of said soundboard and extending rearwardly in a diagonally opposite direction to said bass strings, in front of and beyond said bass bridge, and treble strings supported in tension on said frame and extending contiguously across said treble bridge.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said string frame includes horizontal metal plate portions adjacent said intermediate casing walls respectively and sound outlet holes in said plates.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said casing comprises an inner and outer rim secured together, said outer rim extending above said inner rim to form a shoulder, said soundboard and said string frame being supported on said shoulder.

10. In combination in a piano, a horizontal keybed, a horizontally disposed casing of substantially symmetrical contour including side walls secured to said keybed at its ends and intermediate walls extending rearwardly-inwardly from said side walls to a rear wall disposed substantially parallel to the front edge of said keybed, said rear wall being of a length equal substantially to one half the distance between said side walls and located rearwardly of the front edge of said keybed such a distance that the said distance between said side walls is at least equal to said rearwardly locating distance, a horizontal soundboard located within said casing with its front edge rearward of the front edge of said keybed, said sound board conforming substantially in contour to said casing and supported at least thereby, a bass bridge secured to the upper surface of said soundboard and located in a rear part thereof near said casing wall approximately equidistant from the ends of said rear wall, a metal string frame located within said casing and supported at least thereby immediately above said soundboard with its front edge intermediate the front edge of said soundboard and said keybed, bass strings supported in tension on said frame and extending diagonally rearwardly, contiguously across said bass bridge, a treble bridge secured to the upper surface of said soundboard and extending rearwardly in a diagonally opposite direction to said bass strings, in front of and beyond said bass bridge, treble strings supported in tension on said frame and extending contiguoulsly across said treble bridge, and a keyboard of rearwardly extending playing keys and a piano action including hammers for striking said strings, supported on said keybed, said hammers and said strings being so disposed that said hammers strike said strings in a line oblique to the front edge of said keybed, whereby the tone quality of a small horizontal piano is improved.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 6, including two lids hinged on stationary pivots supported by said casing and located in a line substantially parallel to the front edge of said keybed rearwardly thereof, said lids extending from said pivots forwardly and rearwardly respectively over said casing, whereby in raising said lids to inclined positions sound from said piano is distributed therefrom.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 6, including a set of stationary pivots supported by said casing and located in a line substantially parallel to the front edge of said keybed rearwardly thereof, a lid hinged on said pivots and extending rearwardly therefrom over said casing,

a second lid comprising a first lid member hinged on said pivots and extending forwardly therefrom over said casing, a second lid member hinged on said first member and extending forwardly therefrom over said casing to be adjacent the front of the piano, and a third lid member hinged on said second member and depending therefrom adjacent the front edges of said side walls, whereby in folding said third and second members on said first member and raising said lids to inclined positions sound from said piano is distributed therefrom.

13. In combination in a piano, a horizontally disposed casing including forwardly terminating side arms, stationary pivoting means supported by said casing and located rearwardly of the front edges of said arms, a lid hinged on said means and extending rearwardly therefrom over said casing, a second lid. comprising a first lid member hinged on means and extending forwardly therefrom over said casing, a second lid member hinged on said first member and extending forwardly therefrom over said casing to be adjacent the front of the piano, and a third lid member hinged on said second member and depending therefrom adjacent the front edges of said side arms, whereby in folding said third and I said second members on said first member and raising said lids to inclined positions sound from said piano is distributed therefrom.

14. In a horizontal piano having a casing of diminished depth and a cover, supporting means in said casing and a metal string frame supported thereby, said frame including a plurality of rib members extending generally rearwardly from the front thereof, a music support comprising a shelf and foldable desk, said support when folded having a given thickness, the uppermost edges of said string frame ribs lying below the top of said casing by a distance less than the thickness of said music support when folded, and the forward parts of said ribs bein of reduced height so that the uppermost edges of said forward parts lie below the top of said casing a distance at least equal to the thickness of said music support when folded, said music support being located in the recess so formed, whereby said cover when in place on said casing will cover said music support.

15. In a horizontal piano having a casing of diminished depth and a cover, supporting means in said casing and a metal string frame supported thereby, said frame including a plurality of rib members extending generally rearwardly from the front thereof, a music support comprising a shelf and foldable desk, said support when folded having a given thickness, the uppermost edges of said string frame ribs lying below the top of said casing by a distance less than the thickness of said music support when folded, and the forward parts of said ribs being of reduced height so that the uppermost edges of said forward parts lie below the top of said casing a distance at least equal to the thickness of said music support whenv folded, said music support being located in the recess so formed, whereby said cover when in place on said casing will cover said music support, said casing being formed of inner and outer casing members fastened together, said inner casing member being of less depth than said outer casing member and so located as to present upwardly and downwardly directed shoulders within the depth of said outer casing member,

- said upwardly directed shoulder forming the support for said string frame, and a keybed located against said downwardly directed shoulder in the front part of said casing so that the under side of the ends of said keybed are co-planar with the bottom edge of said outer casing member.

16. In a horizontal piano having a casing of diminished depth and a cover, supporting means in said casing and a metal string frame supported thereby, said frame including a plurality of rib members extending generally rearwardly from the front thereof, a music support comprising a shelf and foldable desk, said support when folded having a given thickness, the uppermost edges of said string frame ribs lying below the top of said casing by a distance less than the thickness of said music support when folded, and the forward parts of said ribs bein of reduced height so that the uppermost edges of said forward parts lie below the top of said casing a distance at least equal to the thickness of said music support when folded, said music support being located the recess so formed, whereby said cover when in place on said casing will cover said music support, said casing being formed of inner and outer casing members fastened together, said inner casing member being of less depth than the outer casing member and so located as to present upwardly and downwardly directed shoulders Within the depth of said outer casing member, said upwardly directed shoulder forming the support for said string frame, and a keybed located against said downwardly directed shoulder in the front part of said casing so that the under side of the ends of said keybed are co-planar with the bottom edge of said outer casing memher, a supporting means at the rear of said casing resting against the downwardly directed shoulder of the inner casing member so that its lower surface is co-planar with the bottom edge of said outer casing member, and legs attached to said keybed and said supporting member respectively.

1']. In a horizontal piano having a casing of diminished depth and a cover, supporting means in said casing and a metal string frame supported thereby, said frame including a plurality of' rib members extending generally rearwardly from the front thereof, a music support comprising a shelf and foldable desk, said support when folded having a given thickness, the uppermost edges of said string frame ribs lying below the top of said casing by a distance less than the thickness of said music support when folded, and the forward parts of said ribs being of reduced height so that the uppermost edges of said forward parts lie below the top of said casing a distance at least equal to the thickness of said music support when folded, said music support being located in the recess so formed, whereby said cover when in place on said casing will cover said music support, said casing being formed of inner and outer casing members fastened together, said inner casing member being of less depth than the outer casing member and so located as to present upwardly and downwardly directed shoulders within the depth of said outer casing member, said upwardly directed shoulder forming the support for said string frame, and a keybed located against said downwardly directed shoulder in the front part of said casing so that the under side of the ends of said keybed are co-planar with the bottom edge of said outer casing member, said keybed having a reinforced structure comprising a reinforcing member attached thereto and extending longitudinally thereof substantially throughout its length but terminating short of the ends of said keybed by a sufficient distance to escape observation when the piano is viewed sideways at a downwardly directed angle to the horizontal, whereby the thickness of said keybed may be diminished.

18. In a horizontal piano 2. horizontally disposed casing of diminished thickness, said casing comprising an outer part and an inner part of less depth than the outer part, and so combined therewith as to present within the casing upwardly and downwardly directed supporting shoulders, a keybed at the forward end of said frame resting against said downwardly directed shoulder and of such thickness at its ends as to be located wholly within the vertical depth of said casing, a supporting means at the rear of said casing, resting against said downwardly directed shoulder with its under surface co-planar with the bottom edge of said casing, and legs for said piano respectively fastened to said keybed and said support.

19. In a horizontal piano a horizontally disposed casing of diminished thickness, said casing comprising an outer part and an inner part of less depth than the outer part, and so combined therewith as to present within the casing upwardly and downwardly directed supporting shoulders, a keybed at the forward end of said frame resting against said downwardly directed r shoulder, and of such thickness at its ends as to be located wholly within the vertical depth of said casing, a supporting means at the rear of said casing, resting against said downwardly directed shoulder with its under surface co-planar with the bottom edge of said casing, and legs for said piano respectively fastened to said keybed and said support, said keybed having a body of a thickness not substantially exceeding one inch, and a reinforcement on the under side of said body, extending longitudinally thereof for substantially the length of the body but terminating short of the ends of said body by a sufiicient distance to escape observation when the piano is viewed from the side at a downwardly directed angle to the horizontal.

FRITZ I-IUE'I'IEMANN. W'ILBUR M. DAY. 

